pt all the French and Latin Chronicles for supplemental
intelligence.]

[Footnote 38: (a Greek corruption), and elsewhere, (l. iv. p. 84,).
Anna Comnena was born in the purple; yet her father was no more than a
private though illustrious subject, who raised himself to the empire.]

[Footnote 39: Giannone, (tom. ii. p. 2) forgets all his original
authors, and rests this princely descent on the credit of Inveges,
an Augustine monk of Palermo in the last century. They continue the
succession of dukes from Rollo to William II. the Bastard or Conqueror,
whom they hold (communemente si tiene) to be the father of Tancred of
Hauteville; a most strange and stupendous blunder! The sons of Tancred
fought in Apulia, before William II. was three years old, (A.D. 1037.)]

[Footnote 40: The judgment of Ducange is just and moderate: Certe
humilis fuit ac tenuis Roberti familia, si ducalem et regium spectemus
apicem, ad quem postea pervenit; quae honesta tamen et praeter nobilium
vulgarium statum et conditionem illustris habita est, "quae nec humi
reperet nec altum quid tumeret." (Wilhem. Malmsbur. de Gestis Anglorum,
l. iii. p. 107. Not. ad Alexiad. p. 230.)]

[Footnote 41: I shall quote with pleasure some of the best lines of the
Apulian, (l. ii. p. 270.)

Pugnat utraque manu, nec lancea cassa, nec ensis

Cassus erat, quocunque manu deducere vellet.

Ter dejectus equo, ter viribus ipse resumptis

Major in arma redit: stimulos furor ipse ministrat.

Ut Leo cum frendens, &c.

- -- -- -- -- -- -

Nullus in hoc bello sicuti post bella probatum est

Victor vel victus, tam magnos edidit ictus.]

[Footnote 42: The Norman writers and editors most conversant with their
own idiom interpret Guiscard or Wiscard, by Callidus, a cunning man. The
root (wise) is familiar to our ear; and in the old word Wiseacre, I
can discern something of a similar sense and termination. It is no bad
translation of the surname and character of Robert.]

As the genius of Robert expanded with his fortune, he awakened the
jealousy of his elder brother, by whom, in a transient quarrel, his life
was threatened and his liberty restrained. After the death of Humphrey,
the tender age of his sons excluded them from the command; they were
reduced to a private estate, by the ambition of their guardian and
uncle; and Guiscard was exalted on a buckler, and saluted count of
Apulia and general of the republic. With an